Chellgren Student Fellow Alumni Spotlight Q&A with Alpha Parrott, Chellow Class of 2011
The Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence is celebrating the 20th class of Chellgren Student Fellows by hosting an All-Class Reunion in October 2026 to celebrate! In honor of 20 years, we are highlighting alumni from the program by sharing where they are now and reflecting on their time as Chellgren Student Fellows.
Alpha Parrott was the first to respond to our Q&A Alumni Spotlight! Originally from Franklin, TN, Alpha pursued degrees in political science, classics, and history at the University of Kentucky. While at UK, she was a Singletary Scholar, a Chellgren Student Fellow, and a Gaines Fellow. Because of the Chellgren Center, Alpha matched with her research mentor and drove her to pursue a research internship focused on a medieval Latin manuscript with Special Collections. She recently published a short story and is looking for a home for a full-length poetry collection as well.
Why did you choose to attend the University of Kentucky, and how did you first get connected with the Chellgren Center?
Once I was offered the Singletary scholarship, I knew UK was the place for me. UK provided opportunities in each of my (seemingly niche) interests and support for an interdisciplinary education. I first learned about Chellgren when trying to get involved in research. I loved the idea of working with a mentor and working with others doing research across other disciplines as well.
What was your involvement with the Chellgren Center during your time at UK?
I felt pretty involved – I was in the Singletary Scholar -> Chellgren Fellow-> Gaines Fellow pipeline, which I feel like supports the whole academic, interested in both scientific methods to test hypotheses and generate data, as well as the humanities to postulate on the why of it all. I talked about Chellgren a lot when I was an Ambassador for the Honors Program, at least when folks asked about research, community support/building, and additional opportunities available at UK.
How did that experience enrich your undergraduate years?
I matched with my research mentor, with whom I stayed for the rest of my undergraduate career for political science, and we still grab coffee sometimes to this day. This experience also drove me to pursue a research internship focused on a medieval Latin manuscript with Special Collections. Chellgren expanded my mind in terms of what research could mean and look like and what networks exist out there with which to work and grow.
What have you been up to since graduation, and how did that path unfold?
I pursued research for a time in higher education, obtaining my master’s degree in political science from Penn State. Since then, I have been exploring different industries like education, medical research, manufacturing, and construction, to help translate data into real-world business decisions. I started first back at a company I interned for during college – Teach For America working my way over to the Data Quality and Technology team. I joined the All of Us Research Program hosted by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Institute of Clinical and Translational Research. I relocated during the pandemic back to Lexington, KY and worked for Lexmark for a time before landing at my current role, Data Analyst III, at Gray Construction.
In what ways did your Chellgren experience prepare you for where you are now?
My current work in construction data may seem far afield of the path I imagined for myself when I first pursued political science research, but it has been fun and fulfilling to get to see the different forms data comes in and the different ways it can be used to make lives better. I think that it all started with exposure to research with Chellgren.
What advice would you give to an undergraduate student considering getting involved with the Chellgren Center?
Do it! Use it to learn not just valuable research skills, but also how to network with other professionals and how to understand the professional landscape of opportunities out there. The path you end up on may not be the one you have in mind for yourself now – and that’s okay! Chellgren can help prepare you for whatever your future may look like.
About the Chellgren Center Student Fellows Program
The Chellgren Center Student Fellows Program is designed for second-year students. This program provides experiences that go beyond the classroom. Through the Chellgren Center programming, you will gain many experiences that will help you get a head start on your career and inspire your goals. You get to experience faculty-mentored research, career advising, professional development, and so much more. You will collaborate with students, mentors, faculty, and staff.
The Chellgren Center began in 2005 with a generous gift from Mr. Paul W. Chellgren and his family, which was matched by the state to create a $4.5 million endowment. The Center aims to foster undergraduate excellence through programs like the Chellgren Student Fellows program and by inspiring innovation in teaching and learning, aligning with Chellgren’s vision to enrich the lives of students and faculty. The first class of Chellgren Student Fellows began in the fall of 2007 when Dr. Philip Harling became the director of the student program and the first endowed chair of the center. We have seen many changes over the years, including the growth of the student program, financial assistance to undergraduates traveling to conferences or performing research, annual trips for the Chellgren Student Fellows, and the restructuring of one of our faculty programs. For more information on the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence, visit our website: https://chellgren.uky.edu/.